Shut-off valve for fuse filter



March 31; 1970 R. J. RAUPP ETAL 3,503,507

SHUT-0FF VALVE FOR FUSE FILTER Filed June 26. 1967 A- W! LLIAMS A'TTOENEY United States Patent 3,503,507 SHUT-OFF VALVE FOR FUSE FILTER RayJ. Raupp and Homer A. Williams, Madison Heights,

Mich., assignors to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of DelawareFiled June 26, 1967, Ser. No. 648,632 Int. Cl. B0ld 25/18 US. Cl. 210-96Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A positive shut-off valve device forinterrupting the fiow of fuel through a fuse filter element of afuel-monitoring device in the'event such fuel contains free water. Thedevice which is located between the ends of the filter element includesa plastic spacer, a buoyant ball-type valve plug, and two perforatedwater-soluble paper discs, one of which is located on each side of avalve plug for retaining same within the spacer. Any water which passesthrough the filter element will dissolve the paper discs and causerelease of the valve plug which will be propelled by fluid velocity intothe filter element outlet to prevent further flow therethrough.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In most present-day refueling installationsfuel-monitoring devices, of the type described in Kasten Patent No.3,117,925, are located downstream of conventional filter waterseparators. In such installations the fuel-monitoring devices willnormally operate for long periods of time without being exposed to largeamounts of contamination. During such normal operations the pressuredrop through the fuel-monitoring device will build up gradually and thefuse elements will be replaced after a scheduled time interval, e.g.,six months, or when the pressure differential across the fuse elementsreaches a predetermined value, e.g., to p.s.i. Under such conditions thefuse elements of the fuel-monitoring device will retain all, or mostall, of the solid and water contaminants in the fuel flowingtherethrough.

More recently, in many installations fuel-monitoring devices have beeneffectively utilized in place of filter Water separators rather than incombination therewith. Even in such installations if the fuel is ofaverage quality, that is, contains only relativeliy small quantities ofwater and solid contamination, the fuse elements will have no difficultyin retaining or trapping the contamination. However, in suchinstallations certain operating conditions can occur which will causesmall quantities of water to seep between the layers forming theedge-type fuse elements and flow to the outlet port of thefuel-monitoring device. For example, if the fuel-monitoring device isutilized in place of a filter water separator and the device is used ata fraction of its rated flow or less) and if, in addition, the pumpingsystem used to pump the fuel through the device has only a ratherlimited low operating pressure, then in those situations when the fuelflowing therethrough is contaminated with a high percentage of Water itwill be possible for some of the water to seep through the fuseelements. The reason for this is that under such conditions of limitedflow and low pumping pressure the piston in the fuse element cannotcompress the edge-type filter elements sufficiently to completely closeoff the pores between the layers and prevent further flow through theelement. Thus, under such conditions water can, in effect, seep throughthe elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 'In view of the foregoing it is an object ofthis invention to provide a fuel-monitoring device which will functionproperly under all foreseeable operating conditions.

3,503,507 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 Another object of this invention is toprovide a novel fuse element construction which will detect waterseepage therethrough and prevent water seepage through the outlet fusenipple.

In other words, it is an object of this invention to provide a waterseepage-proof fuse element for use in a fuel-monitoring device.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide atubular fuse element construction incorporating a releasable valvemember which is retained in an open position by perforated diaphragmmeans formed of a material which is insoluble in fuel but soluble inwater, said diaphragm means having a first solid state for preventingmovement of said valve member from said open position to a closedposition in the fuse element outlet as long as fuel containing no freewater flows through said diaphragm means and said outlet port and asecond dis solved fluid state for permitting movement of said valvemeans from said first to said second position when fuel containing freewater flows through said diaphragm means and said outlet port.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shut-off valve for usein a fuse filter element which does not function on a differentialpressure principle, but functions essentially on its sensitivity tominute concentrations of water in the fuel flowing through the fusewashers.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary viewpartially in section of a fuel-monitoring device containing a pluralityof filter units each of which incorporates the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a filter or fuse unitincorporating the invention and showing the shut-off valve in variouspositions; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGURE 1 of thedrawings it will be seen that numeral 10 indicates a tank having a fuelinlet port 12 and fuel outlet port 14. Suitably attached to the housingis a partition 16 which separates the interior of the housing into aninlet chamber 18 and an outlet chamber 20. A plurality of filter or fuseunits 22 (only three of which are shown) are suitably attached topartition 16 and are retained in position by a retainer plate 24 whichis suitably connected to the housing 10. The director of flow throughthe tank is indicated by the arrows.

Each filter or fuse assembly 22 includes a metal tube 26 having aplurality of perforated inlet ports 28 surrounding a compressible poroustubular edge-type filter element 30 formed from a plurality of washersin registered faceto-face contact. A plastic nipple-like ferrule 32 issuitably connected to one end of the tube and is in abutment with oneend of the filter element. A retainer washer 34 is located at the otherend of the tube and a movable plastic piston-like endplate 36 is locatedwithin the tube and is in abutment with the other end of the filterelement. A preloaded piston spring 38 is located between the retainerwasher 34 and the piston 36 for placing the edgetype filter elementunder the desired calibrated precompression. The washers which are usedin the filter may be formed from paper, cellulose, or other suitablefibrous or non-fibrous materials and are arranged so that flow throughthe filter element will be via the radially extending pores formedbetween the washers. The filter element may also be formed by utilizinga ribbon-like material wound edgewise. The method for winding and makingthe ribbon- 3 type element is disclosed and claimed in Kasten Patent No.2,421,704. In the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1 flow will be fromoutside the filter element to inside the filter element. For additionaldetails regarding this type of fuse assembly reference may be made toKasten Patent No. 3,117,925 and Kasten Patent No. 3,151,071.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that each nipplelike ferrule 32is formed with a valve seat 40 in the outlet port for receiving abuoyant ball-type valve member 42. The valve member is located within aplastic cylindrical spacer 44 which is interposed between the ends ofthe filter element 30 and is confined between two diaphragms 46 each ofhich contains perforations 48 to permit fluid flow therethrough. Thediaphragms which are formed of a suitable material which is insoluble infuel, but soluble in water, are disc-like elements, the radially outerportions of which are confined between the spacer 44 and the nextadjacent washer of the filter element 30. If desired, the disc-likediaphragms may be suitably affixed to spacer 44. These discs, in effect,have a first solid state for preventing the valve member 42 from beingseated on valve seat 40 as long as fuel containing no free water flowsthrough the perforations 48 of the discs 46 and through the outlet portin the nipple 32 and a second dissolve fluid state for permittingmovement of the valve member 42 on to the valve seat 40 when fuelcontaining free water flows through or contacts the discs 46. A suitablematerial for the diaphragms or discs 46 is a watersoluble paper composedof a cellulose polymer which is sold by the Gilbreth Company, 212 E.Courtland St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19120, under the trade name Dissolvo.When this material comes into contact with water it instantly becomesgelatinous and dissolves completely leaving only a slight residue whichcannot be reconstituted.

With the foregoing construction it will be understood that theperforated discs 46 will retain the valve member 42 therebetween andwithin the spacer 44 as long as there is no water in the fuel flowingthrough the filter element 30. However, if the discs 46 come in contactwith any water in the fuel, the discs will dissolve and the fluid flowthrough the filter element will cause the valve member 42 to be seatedon the valve seat 40 and thereby prevent further flow through the outletport of the fused element.

Those acquainted with this art will readily understand that theinvention set forth herein is not necessarily limited and restricted tothe precise and exact details presented and that various changes andmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. For example, filter elements other than those of the edgetype could be utilized in conjunction with the above-describedwater-sensitive shut-off valve. Accordingly, we do not desire to belimited to the specific details described herein primarily for purposesof illustration.

Having thus described the various features of the invention what weclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A filter unit comprising a housing having a plurality of inlet portsand a single outlet port therein, said outlet port having a valve seatformed therein, a tubular filtering element of the outside-in flow typelocated within said housing for normally permitting flow of fueltherethrough but preventing flow of water and solid contaminantstherethrough, said tubular element having one end thereof in alignmentwith said outlet port, a coaxial tubular spacer located between the endsof said tubular element, a non-preloaded valve member located withinsaid filter element, said valve member having a first position forpermitting flow through said outlet port and a second postiion whereinsaid valve member is seatable on said valve seat for preventing flowthrough said outlet port, two perforated non-stressed diaphragms locatedwithin and extending radially across said filtering element, one ofwhich is located at each axial end of said spacer for confining saidvalve member therebetween and retaining same in said first position,said diaphragms being characterized by being insoluble in fuel butsoluble in water and having a first solid state for preventing movementof said valve member from said first to said second position as long asfuel containing no free water flows through said diaphragms and saidoutlet port and a second dissolved fluid state for permitting movementof said valve member from said first to said second position when fuelcontaining free water flows through said diaphragms to said outlet port.

2. A filter unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said diaphragms areformed of water-soluble paper.

3. A filter unit, as defined in claim 2, wherein said valve member is abuoyant spherical member.

4. A filter unit, as defined in claim 3, wherein said filtering elementis a layered edge-type compressible tubular element.

5. A filter unit, as defined in claim 4, wherein said edgetypecompressible tubular element is formed of a plurality of washers stackedin registered face-to-face contact.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,678,055 5/1954 Heim 137-672,798,503 7/1957 Carver et al. 13767 3,078,862 2/1963 Maly 137673,151,071 9/1964 Kasten.

3,339,734 9/1967 Kasten 2l096 3,357,560 12/1967 Raupp 2l096 3,367,5032/1968 Topol 2l096 3,406,827 10/1968 Topol et al. 2l096 3,416,66512/1968 Kasten 210--96 3,416,666 12/1968 Kasten 2l096 3,434,486 3/1969Kasten 2l096 X REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner W. S. BRADBURY,Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 13767

